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The Long Beach State softball team (15-10) split its doubleheader with Buffalo (4-13) on Wednesday, winning the first game 8-3, but losing the second 10-3.

Game 1
Junior Erin Jones-Wesley (8-6) got the start and the win as she pitched four innings, giving up four hits, one run and one walk as she held Buffalo scoreless through the first three innings.

Long Beach struck first in the bottom of the first as Shayna Kimbrough led off the inning with a single to right field. She then stole second as Brianna Stephan was at bat. Stephen grounded out, but Kimbrough was able to get to third base, and, after a ground out by Hannah De Gaetano, Kimbrough was able to come home for the first score of the day. Nalani St. Germain followed with a single to left field and then stole second. Darian Tautalafua doubled to left center, which brought in St. Germain for the second score of the inning. A ground out by Karli Sandoval would end the inning with The Beach up 2-0.

Buffalo got a hit in the top of the third, but could not score as the 49ers went back on offense. They managed a hit, but could not score either and the game moved to the third inning. The third inning saw Buffalo unable to score and the 49ers were up to bat.

After an error by the second baseman, Kimbrough got on base. She then advanced to second on a single by Stephan and then came home after a single by De Gaetano. With bases loaded, Tautalafua sent a shot to the short stop, who bobbled the ball for an error, which brought home another 49er run. Stephan then came home to put the 49ers up 5-0 in the bottom of the third.

Buffalo got on the board in the fourth inning with a run as LBSU led 5-1.

LBSU had a big fifth inning as St. Germain singled to start off the 49ers. Tautalafua followed with her own single and Buffalo then made a pitching change. After an illegal pitch, both runners advanced to the next base. Another illegal pitch brought home St. Germain and then Sandoval doubled to right field to bring home Tautalafua. Leilani Tupua-Tautalatasi was walked and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. With the bases again loaded, a Kimbrough ground out would bring in a 49er run as LBSU ended the inning up 8-1.

Buffalo was able to tack on two more runs, but the game ended after the top of the seventh as LBSU won 8-3.

Game 2 Arianna Erceg started the second game and pitched two innings, giving up four hits, three runs and a walk. The Bulls opened up the game with two runs in the top of the first. LBSU had runners on first and second, but could not score as the game moved to the second inning. Buffalo tacked on another run in the second, and then three more in the third to lead 6-0. LBSU brought in Christian Carbajal to pitch in the third, and was then replaced by Amanda Hansen (3-3). Another run in the fourth would put Buffalo up 7-0. In danger of losing by way of the Mercy Rule, the 49er defense was able to halt Buffalo's production in the fifth inning as they were held scoreless.

LBSU would score its first run in the bottom of the fifth after a St. Germain single brought home Kimbrough as the team trailed 7-1. In the top of the seventh, Buffalo added three more runs to push its lead to 10-1. The 49ers were able to score two in the bottom of the seventh after a home run by St. Germain brought in two runs, but it wasn't enough as LBSU fell 10-3.

Up Next
Long Beach will head to Santee, Calif. this Friday-Sunday to play in the San Diego State Classic II where they will first face Massachusetts at 4:30 pm on Friday.